By Paul Nicholson
August 31 – While the talk of reform in football up to this point has been generally been conducted via media statements and in federation meeting rooms, this week sees the first open discussion forum in Geneva that will look at the practical issues and potential solutions.
The FITS Forum (Financial integrity and transparency in sport forum) kicks off this Wednesday. Organised by the International Centre for Sport Security (ICSS), the forum will focus on financial issues.
The forum is part of the much wider FITS Project that is a “problem solving initiative” which, says Emanuel Macedo de Medeiros (pictured), CEO of ICSS Europe and Latin America, aims “to deliver a holistic, fact-based, rigorous and independent diagnosis on the current realities and threats.
The aim is to “develop a robust, co-ordinated, international approach between all stakeholders addressing the threats now facing sport”.
Medeiros is unequivocal in his belief that change has to happen quickly and needs to be global. “It is almost shocking how we have let this situation develop. Whether sports bodies like it or not we have to change. How long have we been waking up and reading these stories? We need to clean up this mess. It requires a positive coalition of forceful reforms,” he said.
The FITS FORUM will cover a wide-ranging set of issues threatening the financial integrity of sport, which for the most part means football when it comes to money in sport at a devolved level and on an ‘industrialised’ basis.
Issues covered will whether sport can maintain its global appeal alongside commercial success; financial governance; third-party ownership; and safeguarding sport from criminal infiltration.
Speakers include leaders from federations and leagues, as well as law enforcement bodies, and here the insight from the US including Jennifer Shasky Calvery, Director of the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network for the United States Treasury, will be illuminating for those – in football in particular – as to what they can expect next. She will be joined by Leonard McCarthy, vice president of the World Bank.
From football speakers include Javier Tebas, President of the Spanish Football League; Lars-Christer Olsson, President of the Swedish Football League and former CEO of UEFA; Nic Coward, General Secretary of The Premier League; Mark Goddard, General Manager of the FIFA TMS; and Gordon Taylor, CEO of the Professional Footballer’s Association FA & Honorary President of FIFPro.
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